I see that PC Hayes caught two men when he was called to a house in Park Hill-street, Bolton.

One was stripping lead flashing off the roof of a house and throwing it down to the other in the yard.

It happened in April, 1908 and was featured on the Looking Back page last week.

This sort of crime still seems to be prevalent and creates major problems for householders and those responsible for maintaining important buildings in the town such as churches and temples.

Some have been attacked repeatedly and there is the worry that insurers will get cold feet.

We have to presume that those responsible do most of their selfish work in the dead of night, confident that none of PC Hayes' successors are around to hinder progress.